Calculating machine for all species



Aug. 19, 1930. l KEICHENAUER 1,773,392

CALCULATINGv MACHINEYFOR ALL SPECIES Filed July 2l, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 19, 1930.

K. EICHENAUER CALCULATING MACHINE FOR ALL SPECIES Filed July 21,

192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vi i u i 4 r b 1 1 I IJVEIJT R: KurfRADEmHe-PAd-rz Patented- Aug. 19, 1930 Parri-:arrI orFlcE KONRAD EICHENAUEB, 0I' NEBOSSEN, NEAR MEBSEIBURG, GERHANY, ASSIGNOB TO BHEINISCHE METALLWAAREN- UND MASCHINENFABBIK, OF DUSSELDORF-DEBEN- IDORIB',l GERHANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY CALOULATIN G MACHINE FOB'ALL SPECIES Application llled July 81, 1927, Serial ll'o. 207,423, and in Germany November 18, 1928.

In calculating machines for adding and subtracting purposes or for all species it is well known to electrically connect the keys of the machine with electromagnets in order to transfer" the numeral valuesinserted in the machine and the result obtained in the ma-l chine simultaneously to a second machine, for instance a type-writer or a machine for punching holes in cards, so that the numeral values and results inserted and obtained respectively in the calculating machine visibly appear in the type-writer or in form of holes in the cards.

According to the present invention each key of the calculating machine. is` so constructed as to be able to perform a greater stroke than'is necessary for inserting the corresponding numeral /valueinto the machine. The arrangement is such that on depression of the key for inserting a numeral value into the machine the additional stroke is performed at the end of which the circuit is closed. After releasing the vfinger pressure upon `the ke the latter is automatically moved back or a distancecorresponding to the length of the additional stroke, wherebyl the circuit is opened. The value `inserted into the machine remains, however, in the machinaas the key is locked in the adusted position lty the device effecting the ocking of the eys.

For obtaining the above mentioned Ieffect the key may consist of two parts movable with regard to each other in the longitudinal direction. The amount of movement of the two parts with respect to each other is limited by suitable means, and a sprin is inserted between the two parts of the icy for holding them in the initial osition which corresponds to one of the limiting ositions. On depression of the key, first o all, the upper part is moved with regard to thelower part for the stroke allowed between the two arts and on further depression of the said key the upper part takes along with it the lower part agalnst the action of the usual return spring, until this lower part comes into a position in which simultaneously or about simultaneously the contact members come into engagement, the numeral values are inserted into the machine and the key is locked by the known lookin "rail.

The two relatively mova e arts `forming together the key may consist o a lower part forming the key shaft and an upper part surrounding the lower part and carrying the key button which parts may, against the pressureof a spring interposed between them, be moved with regard to each other for a stroke limited by a notch and a locking pin.

. According to another construction, the key shaft carrying the key button is made of one piece. In the shaft of the key a notch, cooperating with the key locking rail and of a length including the additional stroke, is provided so that, after release of the linger ressure upon the key, the latter is moved ackward by its return spring for a suilicient amount, to bring the contact pieces out of engagement, while, however, the key is held locked. Y

In the accompanying drawings the above mentioned modes of carrying out the invention are shownby way of example.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic general view of a calculating machine according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail of a set of keys partly in I Section and v Figs. A3-5 are detail views in -section of a key in three different positions. v

As shown in the drawings a rail 1 is pivotally arranged below each transverse row of keys. The rail 1 is supported by pivots 2 and 3 mounted in rails 5 and 6 fixed to the side walls of the machine frame. Each rail 1 carries an insulated contact member 7 which cooperates with a contact member 8 insulated from and fixed to the machine frame the contact member 7 being normally held in the open position by springs 4. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the contact members 7 andS are connected by wires 9 and 10 respectively to electromagnets 11 arranged at a suitable machine part 12 of another machine, for instance a type-writer, a machine for unching holes in cards or the like. These e ectromagnets cause, if their circuits are closed by closing the contact members 7 and 8, op erations in the secondary machine correkey shaft 13.

. 18 in which on depression of the key thekey locking rail 19 engages under the influence of the tension springv 20. The sleeve 14 is connected to the key shaft 13 by means of a screw 21 which may slide in anotch 22 provided in the key shaft and extending in the longitudinal direction of same and which serves for limiting the stroke yof the sleeve 14. Onpressure being applied to the key button 15 the lower end ofthe sleeve 14 comes into contact with the contact rail 1 causing the latterl to swing about its pivots 2 and 3, so that, as shown in Fig. 2 atthe right hand side, the contact lnember 7 comes into contact with the contact member 8. Simultaneously herewith the key locking rail 19 is 'moved under the action of s ring 20 into the notch 18.A As soon as the ger pressure upon the key button 15 is released, the latter, .together with the sleeve 14, is moved back for a short distance.' Thel amount of upward movement of the key button 15 and the sleeve 14 is determined by the length of the notch 22 and this upward movement is sufcient to bring the Vcontacts 7 and 8 out of engage-y ment. The key shaft 13 is held bythe en-A gagement of the locking rail 19 into the notch 18, so that the value inserted into the machine by this particular key remains in the machine. After the usual release only the key shaft 13 is again moved backward under the action of the spring 17.

In Figs. 3 to 5 a, key consisting of one piece only is shown in the different positions which itcan assume. The key shaft 13 in this construction carries directly the key button 15 the lower edge of which comes into contact with the rail l for the purpose of v closing the contacts 7, 8. According to this` modification the notch 18 is greater thanthe thickness of the lockin rail-19.. On exerting pressure upon the utton 15Y the several parts first are brought into the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the key locking rail 19 comes in the active position. Then the 'key may perform an additional stroke and comes in the position shownin Fig. 4 in which the contacts 7, 8 are lclosed by the lower edge of the button 15. After release of the linger `pressure upon the key button, thev key shaft is moved upward by the return spring 17 for the additional stroke, i. e. for the distance by which the length of the notch 8 is greater than the thickness ofthe locking rail.. The several parts-then assume the osition shown in Fig. 5 in which the contacts 8 are opened and the locking rail 19 engages thelower limiting face of the notch 18, so that, with the circuit broken and leaving the value in the machinethe key 15 is arrested.

The new :machine works as follows:

Ifa multiplication, for instance 25.25 is to be carried out, the key 13 corresponding to the numeral value in the second row is depressed, whereby the rail 1 is rocked and the circuit is closed over the contacts ,7, 8 and the appertaining electromagnet. Immediate- 'ly after release of the linger pressure upon this key 13, the key but-ton 15 (Fig. 2) is moved upward for the length of the notch 22, or the key shaft 13 v(Figs. 3-5) is brought from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5, whereby' the just closed circuit is opened, the inserted value, however, remains in the machine. The same cycle of operations is repeated when the key 13 in the first row of keys corresponding to the value 5 is depressed. In this manner the value 25 simultaneously with its insertion in the calculating machine is transmitted over the wires 9 and 10 and the appertaining electromagnets to the type-writer or the machine for punching holes in cards, so that this value 25 visibly appears in the type-writer or in form of holes in the cards. Then the multiplication is .carried out in the known manner by depressing the multiplier values 2 and 5 in the multiplication-key-row 32 (Fig. 1), whereupon the result of the calculation ap. pearsin the windows 33 of the machine. To obtain this result, in the present case the value 625 in a secondl machine, type-writer, machine for unching holes in cards or the like, also, the eys 13 corresponding to the numeral value 6, 2, 5 are depressed in the order stated, so that the circuit is closed over the corresponding contacts 7, 8, wires 9, 10 and electromagnets, and the value 625 is written, represented in form of holes in a card or is fixed in any other manner. For controlling the calculation the corresponding division may be carried out, whereupon the keys are released so that the machine is ready for carrying out a further calculation.

. In carrying out a division, for instance 625: 25, the dividend 625 is first inserted by l depression of the keys 13 corresponding to the numeral values 6, 2, 5. Hereby-this dividend appears, in the manner explained above, also in the recording machine. By turning the handle or the like of the machine for one revolutionl the dividend is brought into the counting mechanism arranged below the win- `dows 33. 1n known manner the keys are then released and the divisor is inserted by depression of the keys corresponding to the values 24 and `5 in the order stated. Hereby the divisor 25 also appears in the recording malit chine in a manner to be read oi 'or to be sensed. The `machine is now operated in the manner required forcarrying out a division, whereupon the quotient 25 appears in the windows 34. The result of the calculation is transmitted electrically, in the manner explained above, by `depressing the keys corresponding to the numeral values 2,A 5 in the order stated..

What I ,claim is:

1. In a calculating machine as set forth,

a normally open contact, a key capable of performing an additional stroke over that i pair of normally open contacts forminlg required for the setting up of the numeral value in the machine, means provided on said key for closing said contact, said contact opening upon partial return of the key, and mea-ns for arresting the lkey after the said contact is opened but before the key is moved back suiiiciently to affect the insertion o f the numeral values.

`2. In a calculatingmaehine having a key-- board composed of a plurality of numerical keys arranged in spaced horizontal rows 'and in vertically aligned columns, the keys of each column increasing in numerical value from one end of the column to the other; a art of an electric circuitand associated wit sach horizontal row of keys, each of the keys of each row bein arranged to close thev contacts of such row simultaneously with the settin up of a numeral value in said machine by suc y key, and means for arresting the return movement of any key lat an intermediate point of its return travel, after said contacts have opened, to retainthe set up numeral values in the machine.

In testimony whereof I have aixed my signature.

KONRAD EICHENAUER. 

